2. Timeline
1. 博班第四年
Be familiar with the application processes
Prepare all my materials
Know the market
Assess myself
2. 博班第五年
3. 博班第六年
3. Application timeline
Collect job information from Aug.to Jan. (weekly check)
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Mailing list (by research association)
Identify those you want to apply and assess your chances
(with your advisor)
Apply
Check if your referees send out letters
Check if your future employers receive it
First round of interview (conference or skype)
Campus interview
4. Mindset
Let the market define you
The marginal cost decreases when you apply for
more jobs
Balance between job application and publication
/writing your dissertation
You are a young scholar looking for a job like other
American scholars
If you do not get hired, don’t go personal – it’s just not
the best match for you
5. Materials
CV
Cover letter
2-3 reference letters
School’s personal webpage
(Two sample publications)
(Teaching philosophy)
(Teaching demonstration or evidence of teaching
effectiveness)
(Transcripts)
(Syllabus)
7. Materials: Cover letter
Craft for each position
Your current status, graduation plan
Explain your achievement/qualification (what does it mean)
Dissertation (and findings)
Teaching (what courses you would like to teach)
Other things you can contribute to (and address their
requirement)
9. Conference/Skype interview
Prepare your elevator speech (1-3 minutes)
Know what they are looking for (job description,
communication with search committee)
Handle questions intelligently
List courses you can teach (and they will be
interested)
Show your enthusiasm (by asking questions and
making connections)
10. Campus Interview
Know your agenda (especially who you are going to
meet with)
Know everyone (and his/her research. Tip: Smart
phone contact + Evernote)
Prepare your professional outfit: Dress like the job
you are getting, not like the job you have
Prepare your job talk (preparation time: 2-3 weeks)
Leave sufficient connection time
Wear cozy but professional if someone will pick you
up (in case your luggage does not arrive on time)
11. Job Talk
You can’t over-prepare your job talk
It’s a show worth a lot of money
It’s not your dissertation defense. Focus on big
pictures, not nitty-gritty details
Three full rounds of practice
Write your script
Clearly state your findings, implications, and future
directions (and how these can make contributions to
the department)
12. Answering Questions
Thank you for their questions
They are not challenging you
Another way to show your research skills/teaching
effectiveness
Clarify their questions
You do not have to have an answer
13. Meet with Professors/Dean
Do mock interviews (with Professors that are not very
familiar with your research)
Be prepared to talk about your research for millions times
Let them lead the discussion
Comment on their research (positively) find
collaboration opportunity
14. Questions they may ask
Summarize your dissertation
Where do you see yourself in five years?
How does this position fit in with your overall short-term
and medium-term career goals for yourself?
What is your research agenda in five years?
What courses do you plan to teach?
What is your teaching/online teaching/mentoring
experience?
When will you get your degree?
15. Questions you can ask
Where do you see this department/program in 5 years?
Their expectation to this position
Why they came here (and why they stay)?
How do you like doing research/teaching here? How is it
different from other university?
What’s the best thing about working here?
Where do other faculty live?
(Tenure review process, teaching loads, support for new
faculty member)
16. Social events/meet with students
Prepared to be asked questions about your personal
life
Ask them about their
learning
training
research
funding
career plan
housing
17. Follow-up/Thank you
Write follow-up/thank you email to EVERY faculty
you have met. If possible, (slightly) customize
each email
Short, but to the point
18. Other minor things
Think about what you eat and drink
Rest or keep yourself awake all day
Don’t drink (or at most one)
Don’t gossip
